Category: Death Penalty

Amnesty International recently released its 2016 report on the death penalty, finding that while executions decreased in Indonesia, at least 60 new death sentences were handed down. Ricky Gunawan and Raynov Tumorang Pamintori write that while there is plenty to be concerned about, there are some encouraging signs of change.

Indonesia has recently seen a surge in enthusiasm for capital punishment, with public officials lining up to declare their support. How can this be explained? Are officials just responding to public demands? Nurkholis Hidayat examines Indonesia’s embrace of the death penalty and looks at what it means for the justice sector.

What are the prospects for abolition or reduction in the use of the death penalty in the remainder of President Joko Widodo’s time in office? Dr Dave McRae explores these issues with Bali Nine lawyer Professor Todung Mulya Lubis in the latest Talking Indonesia podcast.

Former Constitutional Court Chief Justice Professor Jimly Asshiddiqie has been a longstanding advocate for the abolition of the death penalty. Indonesia at Melbourne spoke to Jimly about the future of the death penalty ahead of his lecture at Melbourne Law School.

Indonesia can easily dismiss Australia’s objections to the death penalty when it just involves Australians. But Jokowi’s policies have opened the window for a more powerful multinational response, write Dr Dave McRae and Diane Zhang.

If Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran are executed, writes Professor Tim Lindsey, any response should focus on the real issue in dispute between Australia and Indonesia – criminal justice. Photo by Mia Salim, DFAT.

Professor Tim Lindsey describes how Indonesia appears determined to execute drug offenders – both foreign and local – if they are caught in Indonesia but spends money to help Indonesian drug offenders avoid execution when they are caught overseas.

Following President Joko Widodo’s recent decision to deny clemency to Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, Professor Tim Lindsey speaks to the Leigh Sales, from the ABC, about the remaining legal options for the Bali Nine members.